ABSTRACT
Neurodivergence and neurodiversity are non-pathologizing concepts which recognize that there is enormous variation in human brains and that there is no clear agreement on what ‘normal’ brain functioning actually is. The term ‘neuro-divergent’ was coined by sociologist Judy Singer, and refers to a community of people who have variant neurological conditions including: attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, autism/autistic spectrum disorders, dyscalculia, dyslexia and dyspraxia. The experience of neuro-divergent people living in (and trying to adapt to) a neurotypical world is frequently a cause of distress and neuro-divergent people have a substantially higher incidence of psychological disorders than the neurotypical population. Neurodivergent clients require a high level of acceptance, understanding and patience in therapy. Experiences of rejection, judgement, shaming and lack of understanding are universal among neurodivergent people.
